Layered perovskite oxide Y0.8Ca0.2BaCoFeO5+δ as a novel cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Abstract

A layered perovskite oxide Y0.8Ca0.2BaCoFeO5+d (YCBCF) was synthesized as a novel cathode material for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs) by citric acid-nitrates self-propagating combustion method. The phase and microstructure of YCBCF were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of YCBCF was 14.6×10−6 K−1, which was close to other materials of SOFC at the range of RT-1000 °C. An open-circuit potential of 0.75 V and a maximum output power density of 426 mW/cm2 were obtained at 650 °C in a Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9 (SDC)-based anode-supported SOFC by using humidified (∼3% H2O) hydrogen as fuel and static air as oxidant. The results indicated that the YCBCF was a promising cathode candidate for IT-SOFCs.